Dear Reader,

Yes, a winner was announced today and we can finally put all this election noise and distraction behind us. But for some people, this is going to take awhile. Some people are very happy with today’s decision, while others now feel their career sliding even further down the drain. 

I do think that the road out of this situation of miserable pay concessions, lack of a new contract, the outdated save-the-airline work rules and other financial sacrifices is a tough one. Success will require:

1. To not forget, accept and become numb to the erosion of pay/benefits/conditions that occurred during the past 10 years---and continues today.
   
2. To immediately build strength and solidarity among all flight attendants (both United and Continental) at this new airline.  There must be a forgiveness, an acceptance of the majority vote, and move forward away from the bad taste left over from this election process.  Everyone needs to focus on, and make absolutely sure that they witness a successful move forward to joint Contract negotiations. Since AFA is your bargaining representative, and since they are comprised of flight attendants, everyone had better be fully accountable for what will transpire in the months ahead. We may not all agree on how to best get there...but we should all be in support of one another.

Life isn’t fair. Nobody cares about the pay and work rules that flight attendants deserve, least of all the airlines.  They only care about what’s specifically contained in a current work contract.

Remember that everyone keeps their current contracts until a new single contract can be negotiated. Our biggest enemy can be ourselves and our negativity. It's time to let that go and move forward on a positive track---and stand together to do it.

All United and Continental flight attendants, with the representation of this union chosen today, must now be accountable and remain 100% focused to accept nothing less than what we deserve.

I do have optimism for the future and hope that everyone will remain positive and wait until that time comes when we officially become a single, unified work group.

A huge round of thanks and appreciation to all those that voted in this election.  You are making a difference...one step at a time.